CRANIAL ULTRASOUND PREDICTS SHORT-TERM OUTCOME IN VLBW INFANTS

In a prospective study of factors which may predict neurologic outcome in VLBW infants, complete observations were collected on 84 preterm infants of < 32 weeks gestation. Cranial ultrasound (US.) was performed on days 1 and 3. The studies on day 3 better predicted outcome and will be described. US. were scored as "Normal" (normal, suspect, or mild ICH) or "Severe" (IVH with dilated ventricles or parenchymal blood). US. scores were compared with: neurologic status in the first week, occurence of seizures, development of hydrocephalus, discharge neurologic status, and mortality. Mean B.Wt. was 1229 gm, and mean GA was 30.3 weeks. 73 infants had "Normal" US., and 11 had "Severe" US. "Severe" US. correlated with low B.Wt. (p⩽.01), and low 5 minute Apgar score (p⩽.005), but not with GA or 1 minute Apgar score. US. did not correlate with development of hydrocephalus, or abnormal discharge neurologic status. The following outcomes correlated with day 3 US.: The infants are being followed to evaluate whether US. predicts long-term neurologic outcome.